Sainsbury’s-Asda merger faces watchdog scrutiny

Ministers have called on the competition watchdog to investigate whether the £12bn merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda is likely to harm supermarket suppliers and the food industry. Greg Clark, the business secretary, has written to Andrea Coscelli, the chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, to highlight the “potential concern” about the move among supermarket suppliers. In the letter, seen by The Times, he says: “The effect of this potential increased market power has been highlighted as a potential concern with regard to existing suppliers.” He adds: “While the Competition and Markets Authority is independent of government when making decisions on mergers, my view is that, when assessing this merger, it should take account of . . . the possible impact on the supply chain.” Click here for the full Times article (£) Click here for the full FT article